I’ve been meaning to count plants that made the move with me to Flamingo Park, but trying to do so with camera in hand is always a mistake. I’ve gone on that fool’s errand at least two dozen times. Today, I put camera on counter and gathered paper in hand. On my way out, I did slip the camera back into my pocket; but I threatened myself good about counting first.
I quickly reached 105, not including multiples of the same plant. It was a good reminder of just how much of my previous garden had made the trek. (more…)
I’ve been studying trees for my new garden this week, and with so many worthy candidates, I’m giddy at the prospects. In my last garden, I got a bit carried away, adding some 25 trees in our 50 x 100 city lot. All in all, I loved those trees, but probably wouldn’t plant some of them again, mostly for aesthetic reasons. One Birch was too close to the patio. Or rather, we planted it before we considered a patio; if only we’d sited it a few feet farther out… But the birches did a superb job of screening us from the street, provided a shady westside garden, and their glowing white bark was nice in dead of winter. There were a few misses, e.g. Acer plantanoides ‘Drummondii’, aka Variegated Norway Maple, pretty, but reverted to green in a most ungainly manner in spite of our best efforts. The Albizia julibrissin, a gorgeous but a weak tree and so so so messy. (I hear that A. julibrissin ‘Chocolate Summer’ is smaller and more manageable. Hmmmm.)
Some earlier choices, though, were spot on, and they are still on the favorites list.
I lived in the Beaumont Wilshire neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, for 33 years. And like maniac gardeners everywhere, spent countless hours in the yard—planting, composting, attempting to eradicate the sins of my past. Bishop’s Weed. How did I not know? It says WEED in the name.
My husband and I added more than 25 trees to our 50 X 100 corner city lot, some choices better than others. But the birds seemed perfectly content. River’s Purple Beech; dark chocolate luscious looking leaves, an excellent choice, so say the Downy Woodpeckers. Himalayan Birch: peeling white bark, and bright winter interest, Bushtits, Goldfinches, and Western Tanagers approved. Persian Silk Tree: gorgeous & tropical looking, albeit kinda messy. We got no complaints from a Macaw who once alit there. (We tried to entice the parrot inside, “Polly want a cracker.” But nothing doing; she flew off, never to be seen again.)
I’ve been busy behind the scenes for the past 4 years, combing thru plant descriptions, double-checking data, searching out great photos. As it happens, prolific plant photographers, like avid gardeners, are a most generous lot. Thank you one and all.
I’m so happy to be part of team plant lust. I work from home snug with my critters, one dog and two cats–at present count–and my garden is footsteps away. I recently moved from a home where I’d lived 30 years. It was painful to leave, but a new garden is on the rise. I’m determined to build on lessons from the garden gone by. Note: do not plant water-guzzling tropicals next to drought-loving Manzanitas.
